Dates: No dates set for 2010.
Starting Place: Kos Island, Greece
Airport: Kos Airport
Price:
Latitude: Kos 36 N

Style: This Sea Kayaking Trip is for folks with previous paddling experience who'd like to further improve their paddling skills and maybe even challenge themselves among rock gardens, in strong winds and in surf. We will use high performance Nigel Dennis Kayaks fiberglass single kayaks (without rudders). One double NDK kayak (without rudder) is available for us all to rotate through with. The NDK kayaks are 16-17 feet ( 4.89m ) in length and quite narrow. The width is between 21-21.5 inches ( 0.54m). If you are unfamiliar with these kayaks please visit a kayak shop and make sure that you will fit comfortable in the NDK’s. You can also check the kayaks out on this web site: http://www.seakayakinguk.com/kayaks/range.html.

On this warm water trip our route and timetable will be subject to change in accordance with the weather and paddlers' abilities. We plan to stay at local guest houses where fabulous Greek meals are served. The warm Mediterranean climate is ideal for practicing technical paddling skills, working on rescues and kayak surfing. A BCU certified coach (level 4) will join us on this expedition. Enjoy colorful scenery, historical sites and a unique infusion in Greek culture. We ask our participants to be flexible as the itinerary might change in accordance with the weather.

Day 1: Welcome to Kos Town and the Dodecanese Islands in Greece!  Our trip starts at 09:00 a.m. at hotel Yiorgos. Most flights arrive either late in the evening or really early in the morning. Please let us know your arrival time. Upon receiving your luggage please take a cab from the airport to Hotel Yiorgos. This cab ride range between 25-30 Euro (30 minute ride) and is not included in your price. You might also be able to catch a bus from the airport to the Town of Kos. All cabs within Kos Town usually cost 5 Euro. If you arrive in the evening before our starting day your night at Hotel Yiorgos is included in your price.

Today you will meet the Crossing Latitudes leader and our "local" guides (BCU certified kayak instructors but not necessary from Greece). After introductions, a trip orientation and a snack we will make sure everyone has all the necessary equipment for our adventure. Please read through the Equipment List for recommended clothing.

Tonight's lodging at Hotel Yiorgos or on the island of Kalymnos or Leros and your dinner are included in the trip. Today we will pack up our personal gear in water tight bags. The weather in this region is warm and sunny, but strong winds and occasional rain are not uncommon. We should expect the best, yet be prepared for the worst. Luggage you don’t need on the trip can be stored at our hotel.

After introductions and packing we will either hop on the ferry with kayaks and all our gear or spend the afternoon on Kos. If we stay on Kos we will bring out the kayaks and make sure that the fit is right. A comfortable and snug fit is important in order to get the most out of the NDK single kayaks. We have singles and one double available on this trip.  In the afternoon – either in Kos or on the island of Kalymnos or Leros - we'll set out for an introductory paddle and practice session in the clear, turquoise water of the bay. We hope to work on some basic strokes, play around in the warm water, review assisted rescues and give folks a chance get wet. The water is warm (70 degree +) and this is a great opportunity to get comfortable and have fun with the kayaks.

Hotel Yiorgos   9 Harmilou Street, Kos Town, Greece            www.yiorgoshotel.com

Day 2: After breakfast we will paddle the kayaks over to the Express ferry (unless we took the ferry the previous day). We carry our kayaks onboard and then travel to the island of Leros (approx. 2 hour ride). Italy occupied this island for many years, taking advantage of its large, deep bays as natural harbors and making it the largest naval base in the Mediterranean.

Our stop on Leros is called Agia Marina. Here we will unload the kayaks and then paddle out of the harbor. The destination for today is the fishing village of Pandeli with its white houses, mountaintop Crusader fortress and Greek windmills.  We'll enter via the small harbor, parking the kayaks just a couple of yards from the local old-folks' café. Greek coffee or a cold drink, as you wish.

After checking in to our guest house (2 nights) you can chose to just hang out and enjoy the place or get into the kayaks again and have another round of skills session. The water is warm and perfect for practicing different rescues or the Eskimo roll.  Our staff enjoys teaching technical skills and this is a great opportunity to further develop your skills. If you are interested you may get assessed for a BCU star rating as well. Dinner will be served in one of the local restaurants tonight.

Day 3: In the morning after a snack we will take a trek up to the Greek windmills and the Castle of Pandeli, the Crusaders fortress. The road to the fortress winds is way up the mountain, the views are splendid and far down there we can see our kayaks on the beach. Coming down from the fortress we will take "the 370 steps" and cruise down among the colorful houses stacked on the hillside.

Once again you can choose to just hang out and enjoy the place or get into the kayaks again and have another round of skills session. Dinner might be at Zorbas Restaurant.

Day 4: After breakfast we will load the kayaks and venture off south along the eastern shores of Leros. Unless the wind is blowing it will be quite hot. We always take breaks along the way but a beach in not needed as we can just hop out of the kayaks and cool off. Some folks like to have their snorkeling mask handy and take the opportunity to explore the sea life a bit. The paddling today will probably take between 2-3 hours.

Our destination is the village of Xerokambos and Villa Maria Guest House (one night). Our staff will prepare lunch as Villa Maria has full size kitchen in each unit. After lunch and a siesta we can paddle more or just explore Xerokambos. Of course you are always welcome to just enjoy the beach, take a stroll and just be in this wonderful environment. Dinner will be served at the excellent restaurant owned by Maria and her family.

Day 5: After breakfast we will make the crossing to Kalymnos Island as a series of short hops between smaller islands. Kalymnos also known as the “Island of the Sponge Divers”  is considered one of the most beautiful islands of the Aegean Sea. The coast is marked by high cliffs, many rock gardens and small caves. Today we might challenge our paddling skills and sneak in among the rocks and the crashing waves.

The island of Telendos on the western shore of Kalymnos is our goal for tonight (two nights). The distance is approximately 20 kilometer and it might take us 5-7 hours including lunch break. Closed to cars, the island is west of Kalymnos and can only be reached by boats. The island has a small, picturesque village with a few taverns, a 16^th-century chapel atop a cliff and a swimming beach.  We will park our kayaks and stroll to our Guest House (two nights).  Dinner will be at water front taverna with local wine, tzatziki and maybe calamari.

Day 6: Today you can go for a hike up in the mountains or circumnavigate the Island of Telendos. You may also rest and hang on the beach. As usual our staff is available for teaching skills, throwing the frisbee, gossiping or exploring the nearby trails. More wonderful Greek food will be enjoyed tonight in a local restaurant.

Day 7: Yet another day in Paradise! After loading the boats we will set out along the western shore of Kalymnos. Maybe we will make a stop at Kefalos beach and hike up to the limestone cave. Participants on previous trips have thought this a worthwhile excursion. A stop at the community of Vlichadia and the Sponge divers museum is a must. This is one of the richest collections of sponges, sea shells, corals and wonderful art collected from ancient ship wrecks in Greece.

Tonight we will either be staying in the community of  Vlichadia or we will paddle on another hour and stay in the city of Pothia. Pothia is the largest city on Kalymnos. We will enjoy dinner at our friend Yannis restaurant down by the harbor.

Day 8: This is our last day and we hope to offer a few hours of paddling or working on skills before our ferry takes us back to Kos again. At Kos we will unload our kayaks, clean the equipment and stow the kayaks away before we head back to Hotel Yiorgos. Tonight we will celebrate our expedition with a great traditional dinner and maybe even some Greek music.

Day 9: Breakfast and a final group photo will mark the official ending of our expedition. Please don’t plan to leave Kos Island until this morning. Really early departures are OK. If you end up having time before your departure there is a lot to see and experience in and around Kos town. The Castle of the Knights, the Roman House and the Old town is highly recommended.

General Information:

The price includes: All meals, transportation from day one until the last day, hotels and guest houses (included in the itinerary), storage of luggage, all sea kayak related equipment such as kayaks, paddles, spray skirts, Personal Floatation Device (life jacket), first aid kit, repair kit etc.

The price does not include: Airfare to Kos Island, transfer from and to the airport, passport fees, tourist visa fees, airport fees and taxes, accident and travel insurance, alcoholic beverages, medical fees, personal equipment (please refer to our Personal Equipment List), individual services apart from the group, personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls etc.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you protect yourself from unforeseen circumstances while traveling. The Travel Guard "Protect Assist" insurance plan protects you in the event that you have to cancel your trip for a variety of reasons. It covers you for everything from your cancellation to Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, Lost, Stolen or Damaged Luggage, Baggage Delay, Medical Expenses, Emergency Medical Transportation and more. This plan is ideally suited for adventure travel.

Travel: Kos Island lies east of the Greece mainland. Flights arrive daily from Athens. You can also fly into Kos Island straight from London, UK. Most flights go via Athens. Make sure you purchase your Athens - Kos ticket along with your international ticket as this can save you money. For travel assistance we recommend our friend "KJ" Stoulil at Carlson Wagonlit Travel outside Seattle. Call: 1-800-622-3342. Email: kj@cwtlynn.com

Airport fees: Upon returning to the US the Greece government might charge approximately $25.00 per person in a departure fee. This amount has to be paid in cash at the airport.

Kayaking:  The Dodecanes Island trips are for folks with previous sea kayaking experience who would like to further develop skills. Our distances will be maximum 15 nautical miles per day. We will stop and take rest breaks, swim and explore and make each day as full and adventurous as possible. We will most likely experience strong winds and building seas during our trip. We use mostly Romany, Explorer and Greenlander kayaks by NDK. None of these kayaks have rudders. Some have skegs. We use Lendal and Werner paddles.

Currency: Greece is part of the European Union and are using the Euro. Euros are accepted in restaurants and stores. Major credit cards are also excepted at many places. ATM machines are available at Kos.

Climate:  During September & October, daytime temperatures can reach the 90’s (28 degrees Celsius)  evening temperatures drop to the low 70's (22 degrees Celsius) with a sea-breeze. Sunscreen and light colored protective clothing are a must.

Passport & Tourist visa: You need a passport, your tourist visa will be issued upon arrival. 

Medical concerns: A recent tetanus booster is recommended. We only patronize restaurants we trust and your non-restaurant food is carefully prepared to high standards  by  your leaders. We buy all our drinking water even the water in the tap is safe to drink (it might not taste that great sometimes being brackish). If you are prone to sea sickness this might not be a good trip for you. Please call us.

Food:  Island food is typically fresh salads, calamari, stuffed wine leaves, tzaziki, feta cheese, French fries, spaghetti, lamb and fish. Count on both traditional foods as well as international cuisine. Being a vegetarian is easy here.

Last minute assistance: If you need assistance shortly before departure or while traveling to Greece, you may call the following number for Crossing Latitudes in Europe +46-70-670 11 53 or our office in the States: +1-406-585-5356. Please leave your name, a message and a number where we can reach you.

See You in Greece!